How Long To Bake Chicken Thighs At 350 (Helpful Tips + More)

Do you know how long you need to bake chicken thighs at 350° Fahrenheit? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Who doesn’t love chicken thighs? They’re simply scrumptious, make great snacks, and are easy to prepare. While making chicken thighs is easy, there are a few things you need to be careful about, such as the baking temperature and duration.

So, how long should you bake chicken thighs at 350 degrees Fahrenheit? We recommend baking chicken thighs for 40 to 50 minutes at this temperature.

Read on to learn more about baking chicken thighs at 350 degrees. Find out how you can make chicken thighs, what ingredients are needed, and how you can check if they’re baked. Happy reading!

Table of Contents

How long should chicken thighs be baked at 350 degrees?

If you’re baking chicken thighs at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to preheat the oven before putting in the chicken thighs.

The time for baking chicken thighs at 350 degrees Fahrenheit may vary slightly depending on how evenly your oven provides heat and how many chicken thighs you have.

The size of the chicken thighs may also vary slightly and can also affect baking time. On average, baking at 350 degrees requires a baking duration of 40 to 50 minutes.

In the upcoming sections, we’ll talk about the baking duration of 400 degrees and see which temperature is the best for baking chicken thighs.

How long should chicken thighs be baked at 400 degrees?

As we mentioned before, the baking time for chicken thighs at a particular temperature can vary a bit depending on several factors.

On average, a good baking duration is between 35 and 45 minutes for 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, the higher the temperature, the shorter the baking period.

Besides 350 degrees, 400 degrees is also a good temperature to bake chicken thighs at.

Next, we’ll look at the best temperature or temperature range for baking chicken thighs.

What is the perfect temperature for baking chicken thighs?

There is no single perfect temperature for baking chicken thighs. You’ll come across different recipes recommending different temperature settings.

But generally, the ideal and most common temperature for baking chicken thighs is between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you bake chicken thighs within these temperatures, you’ll get great results provided you don’t overcook them.

The baking period depends on the temperature but is usually between 35 and 50 minutes for the aforementioned temperature range.

While the oven temperature that you bake the chicken thighs at is important, the internal temperature of the chicken thighs is also a good indicator of how well they’re done.

Chicken thighs get perfectly baked once their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The internal temperature of chicken thighs can be monitored using a meat thermometer. We’ll go into more detail about that later.

What ingredients do you need to make chicken thighs?

If you haven’t made chicken thighs before and aren’t sure which ingredients to use, don’t worry! We’ll list down the ingredients you’ll need right here.

This ingredient list is part of the chicken thigh recipe at All Recipes. Please note that this recipe makes 8 servings and if you want to make more or fewer servings, adjust the quantity of your ingredients accordingly.

8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
¼ teaspoon of garlic salt
cooking spray
¼ teaspoon of ground paprika
¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon of onion salt
¼ teaspoon of dried oregano
¼ teaspoon of ground thyme

To add more flavor to the chicken thighs, you can add more seasoning. You can also broil the chicken during the last couple of minutes of baking.

The best recipe for making chicken thighs

Here, we’ll mention a recipe for making chicken thighs. This recipe is taken from All Recipes and the ingredients used are listed above.

Start by preheating your oven. The temperature should be between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally, 350 degrees works best.
Prepare a baking sheet for the chicken thighs. Place aluminum foil on the sheet and spray cooking spray on it. Now put the chicken thighs on the sheet.
Mix and combine all the spices (garlic salt, black pepper, paprika, etc.) in a bowl and sprinkle the mixed spices on the chicken thighs evenly.
Bake the chicken thighs in the oven for about 40 to 50 minutes until the juices from the chicken are clear and the inside isn’t pink anymore. If the thighs are baked properly, the outer skin will be nice and crispy as well. Using a meat thermometer will help you track the chicken’s internal temperature. The thighs should be done when it reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chicken thighs nutrition facts

Now that we’ve gone over the ingredients and the recipe for making chicken thighs, let’s have a look at the nutritional content chicken thighs contain.

This list of nutrients is taken from Nutritionix and mentions the nutritional composition of 8 servings of boneless chicken thighs without skin (about 896 grams).

Calories: 1472
Total Fat: 69.6 grams
- Saturated Fat: 21.6 grams
- Trans Fat: 0.4 grams
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 16.8 grams
- Monounsaturated Fat: 31.2 grams
Cholesterol: 1096 milligrams
Sodium: 1584 milligrams
Potassium: 2400 milligrams
Total Carbohydrates: 0 grams
Dietary Fiber: 0 grams
Sugars: 0 grams
Protein: 216 grams

Vitamin A: 4.8%
Vitamin C: 0%
Calcium: 6.9%
Iron: 48.8%

Some recipe tips and guidelines for chicken thighs

Making chicken thighs isn’t difficult but if you want to add more flavor to them, here are some useful tips to help you make these tasty treats.

They don’t require a lot of effort but do yield great results if followed correctly.

Boneless and skinless chicken thighs will cost you a lot more than other chicken thigh options due to the extra work involved in preparing them. But they bake faster than bone-in thigh cuts and add more flavor.
After your chicken thighs are baked, let them cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving them.
Using a meat thermometer helps in keeping track of the thighs’ internal temperature. It is a good and useful tool to have when making chicken thighs.
Thawing chicken thighs for a while before preparing and baking them is a good idea. They’ll bake quicker than frozen ones.

Our Pick

Food Thermometer for Grill and Cooking

INSTANT READ FOOD THERMOMETER
MULTI-USE
EASY-READ DIGITAL THERMOMETER FOR COOKING
WATER-RESISTANT

Buy from Amazon

What side dishes can be served with chicken thighs?

Pairing chicken thighs with some delicious side dishes is the way to go if you want to make your meal more flavorful. Chicken thighs go well with a huge variety of side dishes, so, fortunately, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

While everybody has different preferences and favorites when it comes to side dishes, here are 10 side dishes that we think go perfectly with chicken thighs.

Sautéed Brussels sprouts
Mashed cauliflower
Spinach salad
Asparagus, green beans
Potato fries (of course!)
Quinoa salad
Chicken fried rice
Roasted beets
Zucchini salad
Broccoli

How to know when chicken thighs are baked

While checking if chicken thighs are done isn’t difficult if you have prior experience, baking them for the first time and not knowing when to take them out can be a bit daunting.

So, how do you check for doneness in chicken thighs? There are two ways to do this.

Firstly, you can use a meat thermometer. Meat thermometers make it really easy for you to keep track of the internal temperature of meat and chicken. Chicken thighs are perfectly baked when the thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

These thermometers are pretty useful and come in many different types and designs. For oven use, some thermometers have a probe connected by a long cable to a digital display.

The probe remains inside during baking and is safe to use. Head over to Amazon if you want to buy a meat thermometer as it has a good selection of them.

If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can still know when the chicken thighs are done. This method requires observation and might be difficult at first if you’re doing it for the first time.

The method involves observing the outer skins of the chicken thighs. If they look brown and crispy, it is time to take the thighs out.

Other signs include the chicken releasing clear juices and the inside not being pink anymore.

Signs chicken thighs are overcooked

If you’re baking chicken thighs, you might be worried about overcooking them especially if you don’t have prior experience.

But we have good news for you. It is actually quite difficult to overcook chicken thighs. In fact, you’re more likely to undercook chicken thighs than overcook them!

The reason for this is that chicken thighs are dark meat, which needs more time to cook than white meat.

Dark meat contains more fat and is more resistant to heating. Moreover, slightly overcooking chicken thighs makes them more tender.

So, chicken thighs are very hard to overcook compared to white meat chicken cuts such as chicken breast.

If you do manage to overcook them somehow, the chicken will probably still be good to eat, but it might come off the bone if you used bone-in chicken thighs.

Should chicken thighs be boiled before they’re baked?

A question people commonly have when making chicken thighs is that should they be boiled before they’re cooked or baked.

Before we answer that, let’s look at what boiling does. Boiling chicken thighs cook them completely. While it reduces the baking time, it isn’t the best technique to follow if you intend to bake the chicken in the oven later.

Instead, we recommend partially boiling chicken thighs before baking them in the oven. This technique is also known as “parboiling.”

Partially boiling chicken thighs involves using moderate heat to cook the thighs for some time. To partially boil chicken thighs, first, trim the fat and rinse them with cold water.

Next, boil some water and put the thighs in it. Leave the chicken thighs in the water for 5 minutes and then take them out before drying them.

How to bake chicken thighs without using an oven

Using an oven is not the only way to cook or bake chicken thighs. There are other methods for baking chicken thighs in case you don’t want to use an oven. Here, we mention some of those methods.

Using an air fryer

You can bake chicken thighs using an air fryer. To get started, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the chicken thighs in the air fryer and let them cook for about 20 minutes.

You can also use a meat thermometer to help you monitor the thighs’ internal temperature. Take the chicken thighs out when it reads 165 degrees.

Using a microwave

If you’re using a microwave to bake chicken thighs, start by putting the thighs in a baking dish. The baking dish should be able to fit inside your microwave and should be suitable for heating.

Turn the microwave on at full power and let the chicken bake for some time.

You can use a probe thermometer that can be safely used inside the microwave to keep track of the internal temperature of the chicken thighs.

Storing chicken thighs for later: some important guidelines

If you have some chicken thighs left over from a meal, you can store them for later. Storing chicken thighs isn’t difficult and they can either be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer. Before storing them, however, you need to pack them in airtight boxes.

You can also place them in freezing bags or wrap them up in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. If you’re wrapping the chicken thighs, make sure you wrap each thigh individually to prevent them from sticking to each other.

If you’re storing chicken thighs in the refrigerator, they can be stored for 2 to 3 days. If you’re storing them in the freezer, they can be stored for 2 to 3 months, or even more than that.

Chicken Thighs FAQs

Here, we answer some questions you might have about preparing and baking chicken thighs.

Can I bake chicken thighs at a temperature greater than 400 degrees Fahrenheit?

Yes, you can. The temperature shouldn’t be too high and the baking duration should be adjusted according to that temperature.

Using a meat thermometer is a good idea if you’re unsure about how long the thighs need to be baked or if you don’t know how they’ll look when they’re done.

But we recommend baking your chicken thighs at 350 or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should I thaw chicken thighs before baking them?

Thawing chicken thighs after taking them out of the freezer is a good idea if you want them to bake quickly afterward.

Thawed chicken thighs require significantly less baking time than frozen ones. To thaw chicken thighs, either place them in a bowl of warm water (they shouldn’t be directly exposed to the water) or simply leave them out at room temperature for a while.

My chicken thighs are hard and dry. What might be the reason for that?

There can be several reasons for this. One of them is not thawing the thighs after taking them out from the refrigerator or freezer.

Another reason can be cooking the chicken thighs for too long. Yet another reason behind dry and hard chicken thighs can be not letting them cool for a few minutes after they’re baked.

Final thoughts

Chicken thighs are a great choice for a quick snack or a more elaborate meal. They’re easy to prepare and cook, go well with a huge variety of side dishes, and can be cooked in a number of ways.

In this guide, we’ve included everything you might need to know about making tasty chicken thighs, including the baking temperature, the baking duration, the recipe, and some important tips.

We hope you find this guide useful and wish you good luck the next time you make delicious chicken thighs!

References

https://www.nutritionix.com/food/boneless-skinless-chicken-thighs

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/235151/crispy-and-tender-baked-chicken-thighs/